Ford Unveils 2012 Taurus Police Interceptor Stealth Concept at SEMA

We first laid eyes on the Taurus-based 2012 Ford Police Interceptor back in March, but the automaker is apparently playing with ways the car could potentially fly under the radar. The new Police Interceptor Stealth concept, unveiled at the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, mixes the appearance of a sport sedan with the specialized equipment of a police cruiser.

According to Ford designer Melvin Betancourt, the SEMA show car draws the majority of its inspiration from the legendary Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird. Although we doubt the Taurus-based cop car was fitted with ramjet engines and is capable of reaching supersonic speeds at the fringes of our atmosphere, the Interceptor Stealth concept does sport a similar look: black paint, black wheels, black grille inserts, and deep-tinted window glass all around.

Sounds neat, but seeing as the Stealth was destined for SEMA, Betancourt's team decided to add a little pizzazz. The Interceptor's suspension was lowered by one inch, while stock Taurus taillight assemblies have been smoked to blend in with the paint job. The stock 18-inch steel wheels have been replaced with giant 22-inch rims, which feature staggered rim sections and chrome accents, not entirely unlike wheels offered on the outgoing Crown Victoria Police Interceptor."The center of the wheel is glossy black, and the rim is chrome," Betancourt said. "So we have that racy, hot rod look, but at the same time we're building a sinister, stealthy, 'Don't mess with me' feeling."

The stealth theme continues within the Interceptor itself. Along with the black seating, headliner, and pillar trim, Police-spec radios and computers -- equipment Ford worked so hard to integrate into its new Interceptor -- have been hidden within a modified Taurus center console. Additionally, the Stealth concept also receives a locking gun compartment within the glove box.Although we enjoy the notion of a slammed, bad-to-the-bone Taurus SHO, we'd be a little intimidated to see an Interceptor Stealth popping up in our rearview mirror. Ford hasn't officially announced any undercover versions of the production Police Interceptor, but it wouldn't take much -- a Taurus grille and a SHO emblem, perhaps? -- to make the ultimate unmarked patrol car.Source: Ford

@ TheMachineNEVER mention GNX and the current Regal in the same sentence again. EVER. Consider your enthusiast card revoked indefinately (or until you remember the GNX was the most bad-ass car GM has ever made and the current Regal, while nice, could never ever stack up and would be a complete embarassment to the GNX or GSX name)Rant complete, please return to topic. :grin:

@ hac-gagt+1I love the SHO, and that grill (plus the ride-height drop) makes the car so much more bad-ass!My dad's next car is gonna be an SHO, I'm just gonna put that grill on whether he likes it or not!